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Vail Daily editorial: Thanks, Ceil

the Vail Daily Editorial Board

Word came Monday that Vail Valley Foundation CEO Ceil Folz is leaving the nonprofit group. The community will miss her.

Folz for 16 years has led the valley’s biggest nonprofit group. Under her leadership, the foundation has expanded its presence in the community, from education to athletics to fun.

If a child you know has participated in after-school academic soccer programs or taken advantage of other Youth Foundation programs and services, thank the Foundation.



If you’ve attended an event at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater or the Vilar Performing Arts Center, or met your neighbors at a ShowDownTown summer concert at Eagle Town Park, thank the Foundation.

And, of course, if you enjoyed the Birds of Prey ski races or the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, that’s a Vail Valley Foundation project, too.

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It takes a strong staff, thousands of enthusiastic volunteers and, of course, a dedicated board of directors and generous donors to make a far-flung organization like the Foundation work as well as it does. But the formula also requires a dedicated person to ride herd and set the tone for an operation that does so much.

In her time as CEO, Folz has been a tireless, enthusiastic champion of all the Foundation does, not just in the valley but in the wider world. It has to be much, much harder than it looks, but Folz has made it look easy.

Whether addressing local governments about existing or new projects, hobnobbing with officials and sponsors of World Cup skiing or simply being out at a concert or other performance, Folz has always brought energy, enthusiasm and an easy smile along with her. It’s hard to understand how one person can put so much into a job.

Folz always credits the hard work of others — and without a great group of dedicated volunteers events from ski races to Vilar concerts would not look as effortless as they do. But Folz has set a tone for the organization.

The Foundation will surely continue to thrive in the post-Folz era — a lot of people are invested in its success. But whoever next occupies the boss’s office is going have an astonishing legacy to follow and build upon.

Good luck in whatever the future holds, Ceil. Now sleep in for a morning or two, OK?


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